Injury
2007 Sep 18 [Epub ahead of print]
Patrick M. Foye
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, 90 Bergen Street, DOC-3100, Newark, NJ 07103-2499. www.tailbonedoctor.com/
Summary
Medical research shows that coccygectomy (surgical removal of the coccyx) can often provide relief for properly selected patients with coccydynia (coccyx pain). But a study of 97 patients with coccydynia due to unstable, unhealed coccygeal fractures and other causes shows that the vast majority of patients (78%) respond well to conservative treatment, e.g. local injections. Coccygectomy remains a treatment of last resort, reserved for the small percentage of patients who fail to obtain adequate relief via nonsurgical treatments. A logical, step-wise approach is to almost always provide the full spectrum of modern pain management interventions prior to considering surgery.